Zachary Robinson

Spark-Y

Spark-Y is a 501(c)(3) non-profit empowering youth through hands-on education rooted in sustainability and entrepreneurship. We integrate interdisciplinary curriculum with hands-on agriculture systems, such as aquaponics, mushroom growing, and vermiculture into classrooms throughout the Twin Cities metro, where we serve over 1,900 youth annually. Spark-Y serves its mission of youth empowerment through three branches: school programs, an annual internship, and an urban agriculture lab (UAL). These initiatives work together systematically, creating multiple touch points for youth engagement. The end result is a systemically designed organization that empowers youth, provides sustainable professional services that are shifting the education paradigm, and tackles pressing social issues such as the achievement gap, the workforce shortage, and environmental equity.